How to integrate research with community health?

[and 99 others]

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One of my main areas of interest is working in community health with disadvantaged populations who have limited access to healthcare. However, I also am very interested in research and have a relatively strong research background. I'm sure these two fields aren't mutually exclusive but overall they seem to be somewhat detached from one another. Is there a way to integrate the two together so that I can incorporate research with community health? And if so, is it common/are there a lot of resources to do so?

 

[MyOdyssey]

One of my main areas of interest is working in community health with disadvantaged populations who have limited access to healthcare. However, I also am very interested in research and have a relatively strong research background. I'm sure these two fields aren't mutually exclusive but overall they seem to be somewhat detached from one another. Is there a way to integrate the two together so that I can incorporate research with community health? And if so, is it common/are there a lot of resources to do so?

There's a federal agency called the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities

National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities

NIMHD oversees several programs central to NIH's mission of uncovering new knowledge that will lead to better health for everyone.

www.nimhd.nih.gov

It hosts and funds a number of research programs:

NIMHD Education and Outreach

Minority health and health disparities research info for health care and policy professionals; Congress; media; the public

www.nimhd.nih.gov

Including the Medical Research Scholars Program:

NIH Medical Research Scholars Program

NIMHD introduces medical, dental, and veterinary students from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds to NIH’s Medical Research Scholars Program.

www.nimhd.nih.gov

The NIH generally hosts summer research internships and postbacc research fellowships. Whether this is true for the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities is something you might look into.

 

[Sephirakra]

One of my main areas of interest is working in community health with disadvantaged populations who have limited access to healthcare. However, I also am very interested in research and have a relatively strong research background. I'm sure these two fields aren't mutually exclusive but overall they seem to be somewhat detached from one another. Is there a way to integrate the two together so that I can incorporate research with community health? And if so, is it common/are there a lot of resources to do so?

You should hop down and pose these questions on the public health forum, as what you've described is literally the majority of the work I did while getting my MPH.

 

[and 99 others]

You should hop down and pose these questions on the public health forum, as what you've described is literally the majority of the work I did while getting my MPH.

I meant more in terms of incorporating community work with biomedical research rather than public health research. Unless that was what you meant too?

 

[Sephirakra]

I meant more in terms of incorporating community work with biomedical research rather than public health research. Unless that was what you meant too?

I'm not sure what kind of distinction you're trying to make. If you could elaborate, I'd be happy to try to point you in the right direction.

 

[LizzyM]

When you say "biomedical research" do you mean bench research in biochemistry, microbiology, etc?

One thing that comes to mind is environmental exposures (water, air, etc) and health hazards in low resource communities. Environmental health is considered a subsection of public health but it has a bench component as well as a human subjects research component and can include engagement with community members (community based participatory research). That's all pretty much "public health" or "population health". Is it close to what you are thinking about?

Another possibility is looking at risk factors for poor outcomes in populations with various conditions. That can include epigenetic research which is bench research but aimed at population health....

 

[and 99 others]

I'm not sure what kind of distinction you're trying to make. If you could elaborate, I'd be happy to try to point you in the right direction.

When you say "biomedical research" do you mean bench research in biochemistry, microbiology, etc?

One thing that comes to mind is environmental exposures (water, air, etc) and health hazards in low resource communities. Environmental health is considered a subsection of public health but it has a bench component as well as a human subjects research component and can include engagement with community members (community based participatory research). That's all pretty much "public health" or "population health". Is it close to what you are thinking about?

Another possibility is looking at risk factors for poor outcomes in populations with various conditions. That can include epigenetic research which is bench research but aimed at population health....

Yeah basically I mean bench research like with biochem or molecular biology and such. I have a lot of experience in that type of research. I am interested in both community health and research in that context and want to write about how I would synthesize the two as a doctor, when asked "why X school?" for example. But I don't want to just end up saying "I am interested in community health and X school has these great community health resources. I am also interested in research and X school also has these great research opportunities". Idk maybe thats fine, but I am not sure.

 

[MyOdyssey]

Yeah basically I mean bench research like with biochem or molecular biology and such. I have a lot of experience in that type of research. I am interested in both community health and research in that context and want to write about how I would synthesize the two as a doctor, when asked "why X school?" for example. But I don't want to just end up saying "I am interested in community health and X school has these great community health resources. I am also interested in research and X school also has these great research opportunities". Idk maybe thats fine, but I am not sure.

It is now accepted that different populations experience certain chronic illnesses at different rates. A perfect example of this is diabetes type 2. There is now a lot of work under way to establish the genetic and epigenetic basis of this difference. There are certain medical schools that have diabetes research at the forefront of their agenda. One that I happen to know of is U Michigan.

So one approach you might take is to say you have an interest in finding answers to diabetes in the lab and through better public health measures and that medical school X and affiliated public health school y, is doing a lot of interesting work in the area.

I used diabetes as one example but it's not the only one that's experienced differently in different populations.

 

[deleted688779]

I'm in a situation very similar to OP. My only signficant research experience is in basic science cell biology, working on projects applicable to some conditions. However I'm not sure if I'd like to continue bench research or do something more public health. But I do know that I'd like to shift my research focus towards something more related to community health and populations, especially health disparities or conditions that disproportionately affect certain groups. I don't have that type of research experience but I do have volunteering experience working with a particular group I'm interested in.

I'm wondering if this is something I can mention in "Why our school?" --> "your school has X, Y, Z resources to support students interested in working with underserved groups AND you have a great research program (more details, of course). I'd like to do public health research focused on certain populations and/or bench research on conditions that disproportionately affect ethnic groups"

 

[LizzyM]

I'm in a situation very similar to OP. My only signficant research experience is in basic science cell biology, working on projects applicable to some conditions. However I'm not sure if I'd like to continue bench research or do something more public health. But I do know that I'd like to shift my research focus towards something more related to community health and populations, especially health disparities or conditions that disproportionately affect certain groups. I don't have that type of research experience but I do have volunteering experience working with a particular group I'm interested in.

I'm wondering if this is something I can mention in "Why our school?" --> "your school has X, Y, Z resources to support students interested in working with underserved groups AND you have a great research program (more details, of course). I'd like to do public health research focused on certain populations and/or bench research on conditions that disproportionately affect ethnic groups"

I like that. Just be sure that you aren't giving the impression that you'd be spreading yourself too thin.

 

[and 99 others]

I like that. Just be sure that you aren't giving the impression that you'd be spreading yourself too thin.

So, even if our research background is exclusively in cell biology type fields, it wouldn't be seen as pandering to say what FruitJuice about doing public hearth research on certain populations. While this is true for me, I don't want to be seen as though-when applying to top tier, research heavy schools, for example-like I'm trying to tell them what they want to hear by mentioning research, since I don't necessarily have the experience in public health research to back up my claim.